the sandra cameron dance studio: dancing...

given that i seem to be having a valentine’s day focus these days, i thought i would end the week with an idea for the romantic or for someone who likes to perform.  j. and i during our early days were big dancing fans, and we loved learning new tricks.  while we weren’t very good at it,...

mini guide: bottom of nolita...

just this past year, and as i have written about before, i feel that i have found this kind of hidden manhattan, well hidden in plain site that is.  this area covers a few blocks to the north and south of broome beginning at centre and lafayette streets.  this area feels a little like what old new...

oro bakery and bar: madelines and other ...

after this post by kathy yl chan, the sweets expert at serious eats, i really couldn’t not visit oro bakery and bar for their madelines.  well, i probably haven’t had as much madeline experience as kathy (though i do occasionally like to bake my own which are quite tasty) but from my limited...

michele varian: a little bit of domino i...

i feel like i should have known about michele varian for ages, but for some reason i had never even heard of it, or at least noticed that her wares had been popping up in domino until the last few months or so. when i finally went by, i was thrilled to find yet another great, little unusual gem of...

cafe gitane: a new sunny spot for a few ...

j and i have been going to café gitane for ages, maybe since it opened about 10 years ago or so.  the super euro “elite” nolita spot with french-moroccan food has become a bit overrun and maybe overused (at least based on a lot of comments i read), with lots of tourists, reflecting perhaps...

blue bag: bags galore...

trying to keep to a budget, i have amazingly not purchased a new bag for nearly two years which definitely might be a record.  however, i was not able to hold out after a visit to blue bag a few weeks ago.  this great shop carries a constantly revolving collection of purses in all shapes, colors,...